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A dozen bouts scheduled tonight for Cleveland Golden Gloves tournament in Brook Park

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Twelve bouts in the three divisions are set to go, with a pair of semifinals in the open ranks at 152 pounds.

The 83rd Cleveland Golden Gloves amateur boxing tournament continues tonight at the Brook Park Recreation Center, 17400 Holland Road, at 7 p.m.

Twelve bouts in the three divisions are set to go, with a pair of semifinals in the open ranks at 152 pounds. Darren Wilder from Cleveland Thurgood Police Athletic League takes on Royce McCormick from Akron's Good Shepherd Boxing Club and Lucian Clinkscale from the Downtown Boxing Club meets Levi Patterson from Thelma George-Empire Recreation. Tickets are $20 reserved, $15 general admission and $10 12-and-under. Call 216-662-7445.


Cleveland Indians make themselves at home in Seattle, walk all over Mariners

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The Indians moved into first place in the AL Central all by themselves for the first time since May 16, 2008.

travis hafner.JPGView full sizeTravis Hafner connects on a three-run homer in the fourth inning Friday to give the Indians an 11-0 lead.

SEATTLE, Wash. — The Mariners used plenty of pomp and circumstance for their home opener Friday night at Safeco Field.

Felix Hernandez received his 2010 AL Cy Young award. Ichiro Suzuki received his Gold Glove award and a portrait of himself for being Seattle's all-time hits leader from the man he passed, Edgar Martinez. The Mariners regulars were introduced and ran in from right field on a red carpet through clouds of fake smoke.

Then the Indians ruined everything. Travis Hafner hit a three-run homer that may have dented the facing of the restaurant in the second deck of right field to highlight a 10-run fourth inning as the Indians pounded Seattle, 12-3, to win their fifth straight game.

The Indians moved into first place in the AL Central all by themselves for the first time since May 16, 2008. It's way too early for such things to be mentioned, but this maybe the only time it happens this season, so why not?

It was a tight game for three innings with the Tribe leading, 1-0, on the strength of Asdrubal Cabrera's first-inning homer off lefty Jason Vargas. It was Cabrera's second homer of the season as he continued to display his offensive talents. He won Thursday's game, 1-0, with a suicide squeeze in the eighth inning against Boston.

asdrubal cabrera.JPGView full sizeAsdrubal Cabrera homers in the first inning to give the Indians a 1-0 lead.

The Indians went to work on Vargas in the fourth. They didn't hit him hard, but they hit him a lot. If this was a fight, it would have been stopped on cuts. In baseball, cuts come in the form of soft singles thanks to broken bats and bloop hits.

Shin-Soo Choo opened the fourth with a bloop single to right. Carlos Santana followed with a single off shortstop Brendan Ryan's glove. Hafner sent a broken-bat single into center field to make it 2-0.

Orlando Cabrera made it 3-0 with a bloop single to left center. Austin Kearns finally lined a double to left for a 4-0 lead. Matt LaPorta's sacrifice fly made it 5-0. When former Mariner Jack Hannahan followed with an RBI single, Vargas (0-1) was done.

Tom Wilhelmsen relieved, but had no idea how to stop the Indians.

Michael Brantley greeted him with a single before Asdrubal Cabrera struck out. After Choo walked, Santana sent a soft single to right for his second hit of the inning as two runs scored to make it 8-0. Finally, Hafner added his exclamation point.

He hammered a ball high and deep off the restaurant facing for a three-run homer and an 11-0 lead. It was Hafner's second hit of the inning and second homer of the season.

Orlando Cabrera also had two hits in the inning.

The last time the Indians scored 10 runs in an inning was on April 18, 2009. They dropped 14 on the New York Yankees in the second inning.

The Indians finished with 17 hits. Orlando Cabrera led the way with three. Every starter had at least one hit and scored a run.

Carlos Carrasco (1-1) earned the easy win. He allowed one run on four hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked three on 99 pitches.

After scoring 10 runs on 10 hits in the fourth, the Indians scored one run on a strikeout in the fifth. When you're hot, you're hot.

LaPorta started the fifth with a walk. He went to second on Brantley's single and scored as Asdrubal Cabrera struck out. When the Wilhelmsen's wild pitch got past catcher Miguel Olivo for a third strike against Cabrera, LaPorta went to third. He scored when Olivo's throw to second in an attempt to get Brantley sailed into center fielder for an 12-0 lead.

Gallery preview

This is the first time the Indians have opened the season with a 5-2 record since 2006.

To reach this Plain Dealer Reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

Notes from Ohio State's Saturday scrimmage: Touchdowns by Devier Posey and Braxton Miller, with videos

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Posey caught TDs from Joe Bauserman and Taylor Graham, while Miller broke a tackle and dove into the endzone after an 11-yard run.

 

Quick observations from today's Ohio State scrimmage in Ohio Stadium:

* The Buckeyes practiced, then held a special teams scrimmage followed by a full team scrimmage that took well over an hour. Ohio State will scrimmage again next weekend, then it sounds like the plan for the spring game on April 23 in Ohio Stadium is a jersey scrimmage that will pit the offense against the defense, rather than a spring game divided into two full teams. That should actually be more competitive and more fun for the fans.

* Ohio State scored three touchdowns in the scrimmage, which consisted of about 20 possessions, each starting on the 50-yardline and continuing until the offense scored or was forced into a fourth-down situation where they would have punted.

Joe Bauserman, working as the first-team quarterback, hit DeVier Posey for a 33-yard touchdown on a crossing route catch-and-run over the middle, where Posey lined up opposite cornerback Travis Howard on the right side and then broke free and easily reached the left corner of the endzone after grabbing the ball around the 20-yardline.

The second touchdown was an 8-yard corner route on the front left side of the endzone, as Posey planted his feet just inbounds and grabbed the pass from quarterback Taylor Graham, beating cornerback Dominic Clarke on the play.

The third touchdown was an 11-yard run by Braxton Miller, who spun away after taking a hit in the pocket from defensive end J.T. Moore, then escaped up the middle and dove into the endzone. That came near the end of the scrimmage after the offense went to five receivers on every play and opened things up.

* Bauserman was the No. 1 quarterback, followed by Kenny Guiton, Graham and Miller, with the quarterbacks moving in and out with different personnel. Bauserman, a fifth-year senior with the most experience, played the least, while the other three quarterbacks got about the same amount of reps.

No one should be surprised with Miller at fourth-string right now. He is an incoming freshman who is getting a jump on things by taking part in spring ball. He should still be in high school right now. Bauserman is entering his fifth year in the program, Guiton his third and Graham his second. It would be a surprise if that quarterback pecking order remained this way through the opener on Sept. 3.
 
If you've forgotten, senior Terrelle Pryor is still around, but he is sidelined during the spring while recovering from foot surgery and he's also suspended for the first five games of the season, so the Buckeyes need to find another starting quarterback.

* Posey had a good day, which only accentuated how much he'll be missed while he serves his five-game suspension. Corey Brown and Chris Fields continue to look like the two receivers who will start when Posey is out. And the Buckeyes very well may not use a third receiver much. When they went five wide today, they did it with tight end Jake Stoneburner serving as the third receiver and two of the running backs - from the group of Jaamal Berry, Jordan Hall, Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith - serving as the fourth and fifth receivers.

* No change on the offensive line, where Jack Mewhort and Corey Linsley continue to operate as the starters at left guard and right guard, with Marcus Hall and Andrew Norwell getting a lot of time at both tackle and guard and clearly still in the battle for those starting jobs. That fight also includes left tackle, where starter Mike Adams will miss the first five games.

* Berry looked very good. The Buckeyes need to sort out their running backs while Dan Herron is suspended for the first five games, and Berry worked most as the No. 2 back today and looked like he deserved that spot, breaking tackles and spinning away from hits, and then finishing his runs very physically. Hall, Hyde and Smith, the highly anticipated redshirt freshman who is still operating down the depth chart, also showed off the great depth at running back.

* John Simon pressured Bauserman and hit him as he threw to force an interception that landed in the hands of Dorian Bell. Simon and Nathan Williams are clear starters on the defensive line, with Johnanthan Hankins, Adam Bellamy and Garrett Goebel fighting for two of the other three starting spots. But Solomon Thomas, Melvin Fellows (who had a good day) and others worked in a lot with the second team as the Buckeyes look to firm up their depth there. Bellamy had a nice sack after exploding into the backfield, forcing a fumble after he hit Guiton.

* Howard at one corner made a very nice play to swat away a third-down pass, while Clarke and Bradley Roby rotated with the first team at the other corner. Senior Dionte Allen, the Florida State transfer, worked in mostly with the second team.

* Andrew Sweat and Etienne Sabino were clearly the top two linebackers, with Tony Jackson working with the starters when three linebackers were in the game. Storm Klein and Bell were the second-team linebackers.
 

As Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor watches, freshman-to-be Braxton Miller proves a quick study: Bill Livingston

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Braxton Miller plays well in Ohio State's jersey scrimmage, as Terrelle Pryor, still recovering from foot surgery, looks on, coaching him.

billjt.jpgJim Tressel will get to watch the progress of freshman Braxton Miller in spring practice and in summer camp, but the coach will miss the first five games of the freshman quarterback's career due to his suspension for his role in the OSU memorabilia sales scandal.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — With the kind of lateral mobility you can't learn if you participate in every twisting, turning agility drill ever devised, Braxton Miller slipped defensive tackle J.T. Moore's grasp and left him with his arms wrapped securely around air.

Then the freshman Ohio State quarterback took off, looking to pass first, his eyes always searching downfield, the way Troy Smith's were. Suddenly, he was jittering and juking up the middle of the field in Ohio State's jersey scrimmage Saturday morning. Trouble was in his wake, undefended yard stripes were ahead of him, and he launched himself through the air to cover the final 3 of them. His 11-yard scoring run came against a mixed defense of second-stringers and others. But Miller was not playing with the first-team offense, either.

At a few minutes before noon on a gray, chilly Saturday morning, it was briefly Miller Time at Ohio State.

Such moves, albeit in a smaller package, make it hard not to think of Miller the same way we once thought of his predecessor, senior-to-be Terrelle Pryor. Now, because of Pryor's five-game suspension next season in the Ohio State memorabilia sale scandal, Miller is in the mix to be Pryor's successor , at least for a time.

Both were highly recruited, although Pryor was an attention magnet for the whole the country out of Jeannette, Pa., even calling a news conference on national signing day to say he was not signing. Miller, out of Huber Heights Wayne, was highly recruited too, but he committed to Ohio State as a sophomore.

Miller played at the highest level of high school football in Ohio. Those who saw him almost lead the Warriors to an upset of Lakewood St. Edward in a memorable state championship game last year left with the feeling, in both size and arm strength, that he could be the next Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner out of Glenville. Listed at 6-2, 190 pounds, Miller is not that tall. But the 6-0 Smith was good enough to be the key play-maker in an undefeated regular season.

Pryor is 6-6, 235, tight end size in the NFL. His brief appearance at wide receiver in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl against Texas, in which he used his size to catch a touchdown pass, may lead NFL teams to change his position. Pryor was a reclamation project in his technique at quarterback when he came out of the second-lowest enrollment high school classification in Pennsylvania in 2008, and there is still work to do there.

But his natural ability let him lead the Buckeyes to three straight Big Ten championships. Pryor's promise caused Tressel to bench senior Todd Boeckman, who had only played in the national championship game the year before. Twice Pryor has been the MVP of a major bowl, first the Rose, then the Sugar.

Now, however, few talk about the football with Pryor, for he was both cause and victim of the scandal that envelopes the program. He was the first Buckeye player to sell the heirlooms of football success. Before the investigation was over, four more key players were also suspended for the first five games, with another sitting out the opener only.

Recently, the suspended Pryor Tweeted: "Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got."

Perhaps it was a lesson he was handing down. Perhaps he has finally dropped the denial strategy he used too long for his shortcomings. For the compromises he made ruined his chance to win a Heisman and probably ended any thought of a BCS championship game appearance next season for OSU, even should the NCAA allow it. In the tumbling dominoes that followed, Tressel's job could be in jeopardy for covering up the infractions.

Saturday, as one of the most fascinating quarterback derbies in the country heats up, Pryor's role, as he rehabs a torn foot tendon, suffered in the Sugar Bowl and requiring surgery, was to stand with Miller on the field, making certain he had the play call and formation correct before the snap. "The older guys are like coaches," said linebacker Etienne Sabino.

"Miller throws a lot better than I expected," said linebacker Andrew Sweat. "He's getting the concepts down."

Miller has a better arm than Pryor, better than anyone since Smith. He does not have Pryor's size to withstand hits in the pocket, or his sometimes-shattering stiff-arm.

"It usually takes four weeks," said center Mike Brewster. "I was completely lost my first week. But Miller is learning the reads, when to hand off, when to throw the bubble [screen]."

"He has a chance," Tressel said briefly, when asked about Miller.

A lifelong Cleveland sports fan, Tressel looks gaunt, worn down by the off-field scandal. He wanted to fill the hollow spots in the brief conversation with a Cleveland reporter with admiring comments about the Indans' charge to the top of their division.

Whatever happens, Tressel will not be around for the official start of Miller's OSU career in the early part of next season. He too is suspended for five games. Whenever the kid gets his chance, he is probably only filling in until the redemptive final phase of Pryor's career begins. But it will be fascinating because Miller has many moves by which to mark his time at the position, and because Pryor has much to redeem.

Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo upset at Wood Memorial

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Toby’s Corner surged past Uncle Mo and Arthur’s Tale in the stretch to post a shocking upset in the $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday.

NEW YORK — Uncle Mo is unbeaten no longer.

Toby’s Corner surged past Uncle Mo and Arthur’s Tale in the stretch to post a shocking upset in the $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday.

Uncle Mo came into the Grade 1 Wood as the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby in four weeks, but that will all change after one of the biggest upsets in the 87-year history of the Wood.

Sent off as the overwhelming 1-10 favorite against what was supposed to be a weak field, Uncle Mo controlled the race from the start. But when the 10 3-year-olds turned for home, Uncle Mo could not come up with his usual strong finish despite jockey John Velazquez’s best efforts.

First Arthur’s Tale went past him, then Toby’s Corner went past both of them to win by a neck. Uncle Mo, ridden by John Velazquez, was another length back in third.

It was the first defeat for Uncle Mo after the son of Indian Charlie had rolled over the opposition in winning four races by a combined 27 lengths, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs to cap his 2-year-old championship season.

Not one rival was given much of a chance to topple mighty Uncle Mo in the Wood, but on a bright, sunny day, it was Toby’s Corner who came through.

Toby’s Corner, the second betting choice at 8-1, came into the race off a third-place finish in the Gotham Stakes last month at Aqueduct. But the chestnut colt is a son of Bellamy Road, who won the 2005 Wood by a record 17 lengths.

Secretariat’s loss to stablemate Angle Light in 1973 is considered the biggest upset in Wood history, but this one has to be pretty close after all the prerace buildup centering on Uncle Mo, owned by Mike Repole and trained by Todd Pletcher.

Norman Asbjornson was fourth, followed by Isn’t He Perfect, Starship Caesar, Son of Posse, Preachintothedevil and Duca.

Toby’s Corner returned $19.40, $7 and $2.50. Arthur’s Tale paid $11 and $3.30, and Uncle Mo returned $2.10 to show. The winning time was 1:49.93.

Toby’s Corner, trained by Graham Motion, earned $600,000 for owner Dianne Cotter to boost his earnings to $722,240 and put him in the mix for the Derby on May 7.

 

Catcher Carlos Santana making 5th straight start: Cleveland Indians daily briefing

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Manager Manny Acta says catcher Carlos Santana has no issues with his surgically repaired left knee.



 

Cleveland Indians beat Boston Red Sox, 3-1Indians catcher Carlos Santana is seeing plenty of action behind the plate at the start of this season.

Game 8, Saturday, April 9: Carlos Santana made his fifth start at catcher in as many days Saturday at Safeco Field. It would appear his left knee is doing just fine.

 Asked if Santana would make it six straight starts behind the plate in Sunday's series finale against the Mariners, manager Manny Acta said, "Come on in about two hours before the game tomorrow and check the lineup card. You'll find out."

 Santana, who turned 25 on Friday, is hitting .346 (9-for-26) with one homer and six RBI. He's started all seven of the Tribe's game, making one start at first base.

 "Carlos did such a good job with his rehab in Arizona that he's been fine," said Acta. "He deserves a lot of credit. He didn't go home. He stayed in Arizona and did it the right way.

 "He finished the rehab before the start of spring training. He has no issues with his knees."

 Santana was injured on Aug. 2 in a frightening collision at the plate with Boston's Ryan Kalish. He had surgery on Aug. 6 and rehabbed during the winter.

 "He's been fine behind the plate," said Acta. "He needs more reps, especially this year, because during the winter all he was doing was rehabbing his knee. It's going to take time to get him where he was last year when it comes to handling pitches, but he looks better with every game."

 Lou Marson will catch if Santana gets Sunday off or moves to first base. Marson has made one start so far.

 That's better: Justin Germano pitched two scoreless innings in Friday's 13-2 victory over the Mariners. It was his first appearance since he gave up four runs in three innings against Chicago in the season opener on April 1.

 "My sinker was finally sinking," said Germano.

 On the run: The Indians entered Saturday's game with 44 runs in seven games. It put them in second place in the American League.

 Tonight's lineups:

 Indians (5-2): CF Michael Brantley (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), C Carlos Santana (S), DH Travis Hafner (L), 2B Orlando Cabrera (R), LF Travis Buck (L), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), 3B Jack Hannahan (L) and RHP Justin Masterson (1-0, 1.29).

 Mariners (2-5): RF Ichiro Suzuki (L), 3B Chone Figgins (S), LF Milton Bradley (S), DH Jack Cust (L), 1B Justin Smoak (S), C Miguel Olivo (R), 2B Adam Kennedy (L), SS Brendan Ryan (R), CF Michael Saunders (L) and RHP Doug Fister (0-1, 3.18).

 Umpires: H Greg Gibson, 1B Todd Tichenor, 2B Gerry Davis, 3B Sam Holbrook.

 Next: RHP Josh Tomlin (1-0, 1.29 ERA) faces LHP Erik Bedard (0-1, 5.40) on Sunday at Safeco Field. Game time is 4:10 p.m. ET. SportsTime Ohio will televise the game and WTAM 1100 will broadcast it.

 

Lake Erie Monsters win home finale, 3-0

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Lake Erie Monsters beat Abbotsford, clinch second place in division.

monsters.jpgTeammates congratulate the Monsters' Matthew Ford after he scored one of his two goals in Saturday's 3-0 win over Abbotsford.

The Monsters are a Calder Cup playoff team in part because of resiliency. They know how to separate from a particularly disappointing loss.

The latest example came Saturday night, when Lake Erie throttled the desperate Abbotsford Heat, 3-0, in front of a "Fan Appreciation Night" crowd of 12,866 at The Q.

Friday night in Rockford, Ill., the Monsters lost to the IceHogs, 4-2. Since Nov. 24, the Monsters are 9-2-1-0 in games that follow defeats by two-plus goals.

"We've got great leadership in the locker room, which helps us rebound from poor efforts," Monsters coach David Quinn said. "Our flight Saturday was delayed, and we didn't get in until 2 p.m. We had a bit of a crutch. But nobody cares when your flight gets in."

Lake Erie improved to 43-28-3-5 overall. Its final game of the regular season is this afternoon at Rochester.

When the final horn sounded in the Monsters-Abbotsford game, the two teams in front of the Monsters in the North Division -- Hamilton and Manitoba -- were playing each other in the season finale for both clubs. Hamilton ended up winning and clinched the division.

Lake Erie is locked into second place and will have home-ice advantage for a first-round matchup against Manitoba. The teams will play a best-of-seven series that will begin late this week, with the dates to be announced.

The Monsters finished 24-11-2-3 at home. They drew 262,735 fans; the average of 6,568 will rank sixth out of 30 when the AHL regular season concludes today.

"Hopefully, we can fill the barn for the playoffs," winger Matt Ford said. "Big crowds make a difference. We've fed off our fans' energy all season."

Against Abbotsford, the Monsters took a 1-0 lead at 8:21 of the first period when Ford unleashed a slapper that worked its way past goalie Leland Irving. The puck might have deflected off teammate Justin Mercier's skate; Ford credited Mercier for, at a minimum, creating a distraction.

Ford made it 2-0 at 1:03 of the second. Positioned near Irving, Ford redirected a slapper by Joel Chouinard for his 25th. Chouinard had gotten off a quick shot after the Monsters forced a turnover in the corner.

Ford narrowly missed a hat trick in a shorthanded situation.

"I almost had a hat trick a hundred times, to be honest," he said. "I should have had six or seven goals. For whatever reason, the puck kept finding my stick."

Abbotsford, which had beaten host Grand Rapids, 6-0, Friday to keep its playoff hopes flickering, began to perform better until defenseman Matt Pelech committed a cross-checking penalty late in the second. With the Monsters on the power play, winger David van der Gulik spotted forward Greg Mauldin open on the left doorstep. Van der Gulik's attempt to feather a pass from the right side ended up being redirected into the goal by an Abbotsford skate at 18:51.

 

Justin Masterson holds Seattle scoreless through six; Cleveland Indians lead, 2-0

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Justin Masterson strikes out seven in the first four innings for the Indians.

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Justin Masterson struck out nine through six scoreless innings Saturday night as the Indians lead the Mariners, 2-0, at Safeco Field.

Masterson ended the sixth by striking out Milton Bradley and Jack Cust with Chone Figgins at third. Figgins singled with one out and went all the way to third on a a wild pitch that bounced toward the Seattle dugout.

Through six innings, Masterson allowed three hits and one walk on 99 pitches.

The Tribe's took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Orlando Cabrera, after Travis Hafner was intentionally walked with one out to load the bases, sent a sac-fly to left field to score Asdrubal Cabrera.

Shin-Soo Choo came around to score from second when left fielder Milton Bradley's throw to third ended up in the Indians dugout. Doug Fister, Seattle's starting pitcher, was backing up the play. He tried to stop the ball from rolling into the dugout with a sliding stop, but knocked it in.

Asdrubal Cabrera and Choo opened the inning with singles. After Carlos Santana advanced the runners with a ground out to first, Fister fell behind Hafner 2-0 before intentionally walking him.

Orlando Cabrera worked the count full. On the pitch before his sac-fly, he lined a shot down the third baseline that hit Asdrubal Cabrera, who was coming home in foul territory. It was ruled a dead ball and Cabrera followed with his sac-fly to left.

 


The Masters 2011: Clutch birdie on No. 17 gives Rory McIlroy four-stroke lead heading into final round

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Ireland's Rory McIlroy, only 21 years old, sits atop a leaderboard that doesn't include an American golfer in the top seven. Tiger Woods' chances essentially evaporate with a third-round 74 that has him seven strokes behind.

rory mcilroy.JPGView full sizeRory McIlroy celebrates his birdie on the 17th green during the third round Saturday at Augusta National Golf Club. McIlroy heads into the final round with a four-shot lead.

Ron Green Jr. / Charlotte Observer

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Looking into a setting sun late Saturday afternoon, Rory McIlroy watched his 33-foot birdie putt on the 17th green slide down a gentle slope, ease to the right then change direction, curling suddenly left as if pulled by a magnet or destiny.

With his putter raised like Jack Nicklaus on the same green 25 years ago, McIlroy dropped his fist like a hammer when the birdie putt fell, giving him a four-stroke lead in a Masters that he has seemingly owned since it began on Thursday.

Sitting atop a leaderboard that doesn't include an American in the top seven and with his final-round playing partner Angel Cabrera the only major championship winner among his seven closest pursuers, McIlroy's moment has arrived.

Just 21 but older in golf years, McIlroy has a sense of what is coming on what's expected to be an unseasonably warm Sunday. He's finished third in three of the last five major championships and shared the lead with four holes remaining in the PGA Championship last August.

"It feels nice. It feels good," McIlroy said of sitting on the lead at 12-under par 204 after rounds of 65-69-70.

Cabrera, Charl Schwartzel, K.J. Choi and Jason Day are his nearest pursuers while Adam Scott and Luke Donald will start the final round five behind. Tiger Woods' chances essentially evaporated with a third-round 74 that left him seven strokes behind.

"I know how leads can dwindle away very quickly," McIlroy said. "I have to go out and not take anything for granted and play as hard as I've played the first three days. If I do that, things can go my way."

McIlroy has built his lead with excellence in every way. His 303-yard driving distance is best in the field, he's tied for second in greens hit in regulation and is 13th in fairways hit. He ranks in the middle of the putting stats largely because he's hit more greens than all but one player.

"The way he's hitting it, he'll be tough to catch," said Day, who led briefly during the hot, muggy afternoon before playing his last 13 holes 3-over par.

McIlroy, whose only previous PGA Tour victory came at the Quail Hollow (now Wells Fargo) Championship last May, has focused on playing what he calls "stress-free golf" this year. He gave a clinic in it Saturday, methodically stacking par upon par until he hit the throttle with three birdies over the last six holes.

Of the four birdies he made Saturday, two were set up by 6-iron second shots into the par-5 holes on the back. He didn't panic when putts kept sliding past the hole, practicing the patience that players chant like a mantra around Augusta National.

"I'd been waiting on a putt to drop all day," McIlroy said of his 17th hole birdie that felt like a prelude to a championship.

Beyond McIlroy, this has been a Masters about two things -- youth and the game's international scope. If he can win this Masters, McIlroy will bring it all together while reinforcing the expectation that he can be the game's next transformational star.

Of the players closest to McIlroy, Cabrera looms as the most imposing. He has two major championships on his resume and isn't the type to quake under pressure.

Cabrera recently took three months off because of tendinitis in his left wrist and arrived in Augusta uncertain about how he would play. Asked if he came to Augusta thinking he could contend, Cabrera said: "Sincerely, no, especially since I didn't have that confidence. But now that I see I am playing well, I sure think I can do it."

McIlroy planned to spend Saturday night like he's spent most nights this week -- tossing a football with his three friends from Northern Ireland and relaxing.

There's an Ulster-Northampton rugby match McIlroy plans to watch before going to Augusta National for his 2:40 p.m. EDT tee time, not knowing for certain how he will feel.

"I'm excited to find out," McIlroy said.

Ohio State running backs Jamaal Berry and Rod Smith look good in Buckeyes scrimmage

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Jamaal Berry and the rest of the OSU running backs look good in scrimmage.

berry.jpgJaamal Berry will get a lot of opportunities to run the football for Ohio State with Dan Herron suspended for the first five games of the season. Berry looked good in Saturday's scrimmage.

Columbus -- Ohio State needs a running back who can run over or around people. The Buckeyes must have one.

For the first five games of the season, when the team will be without quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running back Dan Herron, receiver DeVier Posey and left tackle Mike Adams, the offense isn't going to offer a lot to scare a defense. The quarterback won't be a run-pass threat the equivalent of Pryor. No other receivers will force a defense to game-plan like Posey does. And Herron, the No. 1 back, won't be there to be the answer.

So expect defenses to stack the box, dare Ohio State to throw the ball and focus on stopping the running back with the ball. And with Adams out, the offensive line will include three new starters. So the guy with the football -- whoever he is -- is probably going to take some shots, and he can't go down after the first one.

Welcome to the big stage, Jaamal Berry.

During Ohio State's first scrimmage of the spring on Saturday morning, an 85-play affair at Ohio Stadium, the redshirt sophomore from Florida made his case to be that guy. He showed the ability he flashed at times last season, when he carried 32 times for 266 yards. Unofficially, Berry carried five times for 29 yards Saturday, making his point not with game-breaking runs, but with a simple spin off an initial hit for a 7-yard gain on his second carry of the scrimmage.

Redshirt freshman Rod Smith, who opened eyes during bowl practice, made his point as well, going with more of the run-over-people strategy as opposed to Berry's run-around, though Smith also made a great cutback in the hole on a 13-yard gain. He carried six times for 34 yards, and if that one-two punch is what the offense leans on for the first month of the season, that's not a bad start.

"You want to see guys step up," said Herron, who was one of the first to celebrate with Berry after his longest run. "I think [Berry] did a great job running the ball today, but I think all the running backs did a great job."

In fact, center Mike Brewster said the coaching staff is taking the running game as a given to some extent, and on Saturday wanted to work out the four quarterbacks looking to step in for Pryor.

"The coaches said we'll be able to run the ball with the backs we've got and the line, but let's have the quarterbacks get some reps today," Brewster said. "All of the running backs bring something different, so anyone that we put back there, they'll be able to run."

Jordan Hall, who carried four times for 15 yards, and Carlos Hyde, who ran four times for 3 yards, are also in that mix. Asked for his most impressive backs, linebacker Andrew Sweat mentioned Hall and Smith, talking specifically about what we've heard about Hall before -- his vision. But he also can be used as a valuable pass receiver out of the backfield, while Berry and Smith work best as tailbacks.

That's a duo to watch. But the Buckeyes need more than four fairly solid running backs to start the season. They need a back in the game who makes a defense nervous.

Bauserman in the lead: Fifth-year senior Joe Bauserman is the top guy at quarterback right now, with Pryor facing a suspension and also sidelined while recovering from off-season foot surgery. That shouldn't surprise anyone, with Bauserman entering his fifth season, Kenny Guiton going into his third, Taylor Graham into his second and incoming freshman Braxton Miller, who would still be in high school had he not finished early, taking part in his first spring ball. Expect the pecking order to change by Sept. 3, but right now it's Bauserman, Guiton, Graham, then Miller.

There were three touchdowns in 18 series in the scrimmage, with the offense starting each time from the 50-yard line and going until it scored or was forced into a punting situation. Bauserman hit Posey for a 33-yard touchdown on a crossing pattern on the first series, Graham hit Posey for an 8-yard score in the front corner of the end zone, and Miller ran in from 11 yards out after breaking a tackle in the pocket.

In 13 plays, Bauserman was 2-of-5 for 48 yards, with the touchdown and an interception, when John Simon hit him as he threw.

In 25 plays, Guiton was 7-of-13 for 50 yards and took three sacks.

In 27 plays, Graham was 9-of-19 for 66 yards, a touchdown and an interception

In 20 plays, Miller was 4-of-6 for 43 yards, and he ran seven times for 18 yards, including the touchdown.

Also: Posey had five catches for 82 yards and was by far the most effective receiver. Corey Brown and Chris Fields are the No. 2 and No. 3 receivers, respectively . . . Adam Bellamy beat right tackle J.B. Shugarts to sack Guiton and force a fumble. He's a likely starter on the defensive line. . . . Etienne Sabino and Sweat are the top two linebackers and Sabino in particular had a good day after redshirting last season. . . . In the special teams part of the day, Ben Buchanan looked good punting the ball.

Cleveland Cavaliers respond to wakeup call, but still too late to catch Milwaukee Bucks

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UPDATED: Cavaliers coach Byron Scott challenges his players at halftime, and they respond with a better second half. But the Milwaukee Bucks still hang on for a 108-101 victory at the Bradley Center.

Gallery preview MILWAUKEE — After watching his team sleepwalk to a 16-point deficit after two quarters against the Bucks, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott issued a challenge to his players at halftime.

"If you don't want to play, let me know," he said. "If you do, raise your hand."

What the Cavs actually raised was their intensity level, but the Bucks still were able to hang on for a 108-101 victory at Bradley Center on Saturday night.

"The second half was much better," Scott said. "If we had played that way the whole game, it might be a different outcome."

Baron Davis had 19 points and six assists to lead the Cavs, who fell to 17-63 with their second straight loss. John Salmons had 32 points and former Cav Drew Gooden contributed the first triple double of his career -- 15 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists -- and two clutch free throws with 20.6 seconds left for the Bucks, who improved to 33-47 with their third victory over the Cavs in four tries this season.

After trailing at halftime, 60-44, the Cavs controlled the second half, outscoring the Bucks, 57-48, and outrebounding them, 27-11. Cleveland shot 52.5 percent in the last two quarters and held Milwaukee to 46.2 percent.

But Cleveland was undone by eight turnovers in the second half, including six in the fourth quarter after closing to within two early in the period.

J.J. Hickson made two free throws to keep the Cavs within 104-100 with 39.7 seconds left, but then he lost the ball to Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings. Ryan Hollins fouled Gooden, who made those two free throws to seal the victory.

"The turnovers at the end were tough," Scott said. "Every possession at that particular time in the game, especially when you're down, is so critical."

It was not a great night for Hickson, who finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds, all of them in the second half. He picked up his second foul with 7:53 left in the first quarter and sat out the rest of the half.

"He had two fouls and I didn't like the way he played at the start of the game," Scott said of the decision to keep Hickson out. Of course, that meant the Cavs were outrebounded in the first half, 24-11.

It was eerily like the way they played in their last visit on March 9, a 110-90 loss that prompted a 30-minute team meeting after the game. This time, Scott didn't wait that long.

"When you play against the Bucks, you've got to come ready to play," Scott said. "The one thing you know about them is they're going to play hard, and if you don't match that, then you're going to be down 20, like we were in the first half."

Actually, it was only 16, although it felt like more.

So what happened in the locker room at halftime?

"We got on each other and came out more aggressive," said Alonzo Gee, who finished with 14 points for the Cavs.

Added Hickson, "We got behind the eight-ball a little bit in the first half. We played bad team defense. They got whatever they wanted.

"I'm happy with the way we played the second half, but you've got to put together two halves to win in this league."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mschmitt@plaind.com, 216-999-4668

Expect to see roster changes with Tribe when injured players return: Cleveland Indians Insider

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Grady Sizemore, Joe Smith and Jason Donald opened the season on the disabled list. When they're ready to rejoin the Indians, the big-league shuffling will start.

jason donald grady sizemore.JPGView full sizeIndians center fielder Grady Sizemore, left, and third baseman Jason Donald continue to rehab injuries but could rejoin the Tribe soon.

SEATTLE, Wash. — Decision time is approaching on three fronts for the Indians. Manager Manny Acta can't wait.

Center fielder Grady Sizemore played nine innings Saturday for Class AA Akron for the first time during his rehab from microfracture surgery on his left knee. He'll have today off and is expected to try to play consecutive complete games starting Monday. It could be a big week for Sizemore.

Right-hander Joe Smith pitched his second scoreless inning on Saturday for Akron as he recovers from an abdominal strain. Smith is scheduled to pitch again on Monday and could be ready by the time the Indians return home Thursday from this six-game trip against the Mariners and Angels.

Then there's third baseman Jason Donald, sidelined with a cracked bone in his left middle finger. He's scheduled to start his rehab assignment with Akron today with a start at third base.

Sizemore, Smith and Donald opened the season on the disabled list. When they're ready to rejoin the Indians, the big-league shuffling will start.

"We love it," said Acta, when asked about making the upcoming decisions. "It's part of the game. We'll cross that bridge when we get there. Everyday something new happens in the game."

When Sizemore returns, the Indians have made it clear he'll be in center field. Michael Brantley, who has played well in center, will move to left. It remains to be seen if Sizemore will reclaim his leadoff spot where Brantley has hit well through the early part of the season.

Sizemore's return, whenever it happens, means one of the extra outfielders, Travis Buck, Austin Kearns or Shelley Duncan, could be in danger of losing his job.

When Smith is ready to rejoin the bullpen, a reliever could lose his job. The seven-man bullpen of Chris Perez, Tony Sipp, Rafael Perez, Justin Germano, Chad Durbin, Vinnie Pestano and Frank Herrmann has pitched well for the most part. Smith has an option left, but he's making $850,000. The Indians are already paying Jensen Lewis big-league money ($650,000) to pitch at Class AAA Columbus.

Donald seemed to have the inside track on the third base job when he was hit on the hand on March 5. It ended spring training for him and opened the door for Jack Hannahan. All Hannahan has done is hit .333 (7-for-21) with one homer and five RBI and play sparkling defense.

When asked if there was a chance Donald could start the year in the minors once he's healthy, Acta once again said, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

It's still unclear when Sizemore will join the Indians. Acta and Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer, said playing nine innings Saturday was an important step.

"It's encouraging," said Acta. "He felt very good after the game. He had five at-bats. He had a double.

"He was tested around the bases, diving back to first, sliding at second base. After the game he felt good."

Acta said Sizemore needs at-bats, stamina and timing at the plate. Sizemore had 20 at-bats in spring training, 10 in Cactus League games and 10 in minor league games. He has eight at Akron.

Most players need 45 to 55 at-bats in spring training.

"Grady is amped up," said Acta. "He wants to be out there with this club after missing so much time last year, but he understands. He's handled it very well.

"We spoke to him before we left on this trip. He knows. [It] could be a couple of weeks away. Who knows? It could be by the end of the month, maybe earlier. It all depends on how this week goes."

Playing consecutive nine-inning games will give the Indians a good read on Sizemore.

Five straight: Catcher Carlos Santana made his fifth start Saturday night at Safeco Field. It would appear his left knee is doing just fine.

Asked if Santana would make it six straight starts behind the plate in today's series finale, Acta said, "Come on in about two hours before the game tomorrow and check the lineup card. You'll find out."

Santana, who turned 25 on Friday, entered the game hitting .346 (9-for-26) with one homer and six RBI. He's started all seven of the Tribe's game, making one start at first base.

"Carlos did such a good job with his rehab in Arizona that he's been fine," said Acta. "He deserves a lot of credit. He didn't go home. He stayed in Arizona and did it the right way.

"He finished the rehab before the start of spring training. He has no issues with his knees."

Santana was injured on Aug. 2 in a frightening collision at the plate with Boston's Ryan Kalish. He had surgery on Aug. 6 and rehabbed during the winter.

That's better: Justin Germano pitched two scoreless innings in Friday's 13-2 victory over the Mariners. It was his first appearance since he gave up four runs in three innings against Chicago in the season opener on April 1.

"My sinker was finally sinking," said Germano.

On the run: The Indians entered Saturday's game with 44 runs in seven games. It put them in second place in the American League.

To reach this Plain Dealer Reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

Milwaukee's Michael Redd trying to regain form on rebuilt knees: Cleveland Cavaliers Insider

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Former Ohio State star Michael Redd returns to the court for the Milwaukee Bucks after missing 16 months with two torn ACLs, and he says he's blessed to be back.

michael redd.JPGView full sizeThe Bucks' Michael Redd, left, guards the Cavaliers' Semih Erden during the first half Saturday in Milwaukee.

MILWAUKEE — This is training camp for former Ohio State star Michael Redd of the Milwaukee Bucks.

After helping the U.S. Olympic team win a gold medal in Beijing in 2008, Redd missed the final 48 games of the 2009-10 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and then missed the first 71 games of the 2010-11 season with a torn ACL in his right knee. He returned eight games ago.

"I'm in the middle of training camp for me, playing and getting used to playing again," he said before the Bucks played host to the Cavaliers on Saturday night in Bradley Center. "It's just a joy, it really is, to come back from two ACLs. To be part of this great league again is an honor.

"I was absent from the game for 16 months," he said. "Just getting used to the speed again. Trying to find your rhythm. Trying to find your way. Much as we all don't like training camp as much, you need it. I'm doing all that right now."

Redd said it will take time before he returns to form.

"The organization has been great, easing me back in -- five minutes a game, seven minutes a game -- getting me used to playing again. It's going to take some time. But if I get another off-season of training and then go through training camp next year, that would be great."

Redd said there was never a time he thought he wouldn't make it back.

"I knew I was coming back," he said. "I didn't want to end my career on that note. I went from two extremes. I went from being on top of the world winning a gold medal to being out of the league. It was back-to-back extremes for me. I fought through it, persevered, and I'm back. I'm blessed to be back."

He will be a free agent this summer, but he's not the least bit worried about that.

"My main thing right now is being healthy," he said. "Being healthy will take care of everything else. Free agency will take care of itself when it comes."

Semih tough: Rookie Semih Erden played 11 minutes against the Bulls on Friday, just his second game with the Cavs since being traded from Boston. He was scheduled to get more time on Saturday, while fellow rookie Samardo Samuels was out with a strained groin.

"I thought he was pretty good," coach Byron Scott said of Erden. "I knew he was going to get winded. I knew from an offensive standpoint he wasn't going to know everything that we were doing. So I tried to be as simple as possible on the offensive end.

"One time I had to yell at him about boxing out, and after that you could see every time a shot went up he looked for a guy to hit, which is a good sign. His 11 minutes weren't very eventful as far as anything exciting, but I liked what I saw. . . . The one thing I can say for certain is he knows how to play basketball. And that's a good sign."

The last word: Scott, asked if this last week is the toughest week for a team not in the playoffs, "When the season's over, and you don't have to be at practice the next day, you don't have to catch a plane or get on the bus for shootaround, that, to me, is when it starts to hit you that your season's over and you didn't make the playoffs. That's the toughest for me."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mschmitt@plaind.com, 216-999-4668

Akron's Justin Lester, other Ohioans make strong showing at U.S. Open wrestling championship

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Akron native Justin Lester wins his third U.S. Open wrestling championship at Public Hall in Cleveland. He is one of a number of Ohioans who are victorious.

justin harry lester.JPGView full sizeHarry Lester, left, shown in April 2007, won his third U.S. Open wrestling championship Saturday in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Just call him Justin.

Or Harry.

Or U.S. Open champion.

He'll answer to all three.

Justin "Harry" Lester is putting his given name and not his nickname first these days, part of his makeover since a dramatic, though brief, exit from wrestling in 2008. Regarded as one of the finest wrestlers Ohio has produced, the Akron native won his third U.S. Open championship Saturday night in Public Hall.

Lester defeated his Colorado-based workout partner, Glenn Garrison, 2-2, 1-0, for the 145.5-pound Greco-Roman title, in front of about 1,300 fans.

The top seven in each weight advanced to the U.S. world team trials in June. Lester has won two World bronze medals and readily admitted he's not yet back at that level. He retired in 2008 after being upset at the Olympic trials, and he joined the Army last year to be part of its World Class Athlete Program.

"I'm way left, off the podium right now," he said. "I've got a lot of work to do. I'm heading in the right direction. I'm keeping my feet moving and staying offensive, and those are the things you need to do to get on the podium.

"I just had a close match. I don't want close matches like that. Garrison is tough as nails, but I have to distance myself from these guys. It shows me I have to put more work in."

Lester was part of a strong showing by Ohioans, who 15 months out from the 2012 Olympics, are raising the possibility of several Ohio native or trained wrestlers heading to London.

The Ohio Regional Training Center in Columbus produced freestyle heavyweight champ Tervel Dlagnev and third-place finisher Tommy Rowlands, and 132-pound champ Reece Humphrey and runner-up Shawn Bunch.

"It was bittersweet to have [Humphrey and Bunch] meet in the finals, but it's a nice symbol of where we're at," Rowlands said.

Elyria native Dan Mitcheff was third at 121 pounds.

An Ohioan who did not fare well was Cleveland native Andy Hrovat, who was 1-2 and did not place at 185 pounds. He suffered a second-round loss to two-time NCAA champ Max Askren, 6-0, 3-1, and was eliminated by Raymond Jordan, 0-1, 2-0, 4-0. As a 2008 Olympian, Hrovat is assured of a World team trials berth.

Dlagnev, 30, won the tournament's deepest weight, 264.5 pounds, and beat 2008 Olympian Steve Mocco in a hotly contested final, 2-0, 1-0. He had a feet-to-back takedown in the first period and a pushout in the second, and the two argued after the match.

"He punched me in the face a couple times, and I over-reacted a little bit," Dlagnev said. "He was getting frustrated I wasn't shooting under him. He's a good hand fighter and has good hips. I'm not going to just dive in there. I was playing it smart. We exchanged some words and there's no hard feelings."

The tournament's Outstanding Wrestlers were freestyle 145.5-pounder Teyon Ware, who held off 37-year-old Cary Kolat in the final; Greco-Roman 121-pounder Spenser Mango and former women's freestyle world champion Clarissa Chun.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661

Grady Sizemore plays full game in Akron Aeros loss: Minor League Report

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Sizemore makes his second rehab start, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI and playing nine innings.

grady sizemore.JPGView full sizeGrady Sizemore went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI on Saturday during his rehab stint with the Aeros.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Clippers 8, Indians 7 (10) Columbus scored a run in the top of the 10th inning to win an International League game in Indianapolis. Jerad Head doubled to start the rally, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ezequiel Carrera. After Cord Phelps was intentionally walked, Head scored when Lonnie Chisenhall grounded into a force out.

Head also clubbed his first home run of the season in the third inning. Josh Judy (1-0) pitched two innings in relief for the victory.

AA Akron Aeros

Mets 6, Aeros 2 Akron (1-2) gave up two runs in the top of the eighth and two more in the top of the ninth, and lost an Eastern League game to Binghamton, N.Y.

Chen-Chang Lee was the losing pitcher. He lasted two innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on three hits, walking two and striking out three.

Notes: Grady Sizemore made his second rehab start, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI and playing nine innings. Sizemore is now 3-for-7 on his major-league rehab assignment.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Dash 3, Indians 2 Winston-Salem won a rain-shortened Carolina League game at Kinston, N.C. The game was called after eight innings. Two Kinston errors allowed the Dash to score the deciding run in the fifth inning.

Kinston stranded 10 base runners, five in scoring position.

T.J. McFarland was the starting and losing pitcher. He went six innings, striking out seven, yielding five hits and three runs (two earned).

A Lake County Captains

Loons 4, Captains 2

Great Lakes scored three times in the bottom of the seventh and won a Midwest League game in Midland, Mich., over the Captains. Owen Dew (0-1) was the losing pitcher. In 2 innings of relief, he gave up four hits and three runs, all earned. Jason Smit drove in both Captains runs, with a single and double.


Cleveland Indians look to be starting something, top Seattle for sixth straight win

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Justin Masterson allows one run and strikes out nine in 6 1/3 innings, and the bullpen turns his hard work into the Indians' sixth straight victory.

Gallery preview

SEATTLE -- On a cold Saturday night at Safeco Field, Justin Masterson continued the resurgence of the Indians' starting rotation.

Masterson allowed one run and struck out nine in 6 1/3 innings, but it was the bullpen that turned his hard work into the Indians' sixth straight victory as Rafael Perez, Tony Sipp and Chris Perez worked the final 2 2/3 innings to beat Seattle, 2-1.

The 6-2 Indians have matched the start of the 2006 Indians.

"Justin Masterson was just filthy," said manager Manny Acta. "He pounded the strike zone all night and he had a very good slider."

In the first two games of the season, starters Fausto Carmona and Carlos Carrasco went 0-2 and allowed 17 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings. Over the last six games, the starters have gone 4-0 and allowed six earned runs in 37 2/3 innings for a 1.43 ERA.

In that stretch Masterson is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in two starts.

Masterson came out for the seventh, but he'd lost something. Justin Smoak greeted him with a leadoff double that center fielder Michael Brantley almost tracked down in left-center field.

He retired Miguel Olivo on a great stop and throw by shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera on a hard grounder. Acta then brought lefty Rafael Perez out of the bullpen. He walked Luis Rodriguez, but struck out Brendan Ryan. Lefty Michael Saunders blooped a single into center field as Smoak scored to cut the Tribe's lead to 2-1.

Brantley didn't field the ball cleanly as Rodriguez went to third on the error. Ichiro Suzuki, a .347 lifetime hitter against the Indians, did them a favor when he bunted a 3-1 pitch back to the mound for the third out.

"Raffie gave up a run, but he held them in check," said Acta.  "He got Ichiro out and that was huge for us."

The tension did not end there.

Seattle's Chone Figgins started the eighth with a double past third off lefty Tony Sipp, who appears to have locked up the eighth inning setup job. Sipp rallied to retire Milton Bradley on a dangerous-looking fly ball to deep left with Figgins running on the pitch. Travis Buck made a nice catch in the corner for the out.

Bradley appeared to be playing with cotton in his ears. Earlier in the game he came in from left field and talked to third base umpire Sam Holbrook. Bradley may have been having trouble with some fans in the crowd.

Sipp recorded the second out of the eighth by striking out Jack Cust on a pretty 1-2 breaking ball. Cust has eight career homers and 27 RBI against the Indians.

He ended the inning by getting Smoak to ground out weakly to short.

"I like being in pressure situations whether it's the sixth, seventh or eighth inning," said Sipp. "The fact that they trust me so late in the game, I definitely bring that out with me to the mound."  

Chris Perez retired the Mariners in order for his third save.

"I live for one-run games," said Perez. "That's the best I've felt all year."

Perez says the Indians are enjoying themselves.

"Coming over here at the end of 2009 and all last year, we didn't have many streaks like this," he said. "We're having well pitched games, making good plays on defense, our hitters our grinding out at bats when we need them.

"This is fun. Everyone is loose. Starting off like this, especially for a young team, just gives us confidence. That's a dangerous thing for a young team. We swept a good Red Sox squad and we traveled across country and didn't have any letdown." 

Masterson was at his best in the sixth when he struck out Bradley and Cust with Figgins at third to protect a 2-0 lead. Figgins singled with one out and went all the way to third on a wild pitch that bounced toward the Seattle dugout.

"A situation like this is what I'm out there for," said Masterson. "That's the fun part. Sometimes it breaks you, sometimes you make it. Tonight I was able to get it done.

"As a competitor, when you see that guy at third base, your one thought is he's not scoring. Sometimes it bites you in the booty. But tonight it didn't."

As for the wild pitch, Masterson said, "I tried to throw it as hard as I could. He (catcher Carlos Santana) was set up outside, and it ended up hitting him on the inside part of the plate. It hit off his shin guard. I'm surprised he even touched it."

The Tribe took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Orlando Cabrera, after Travis Hafner was intentionally walked with one out to load the bases, sent a sacrifice fly to left field to score Asdrubal Cabrera.

Shin-Soo Choo came around to score from second when Bradley's throw to third ended up in the Indians dugout. Doug Fister, Seattle's starting pitcher, was backing up the play. He tried to stop the ball from rolling into the dugout with a sliding stop, but knocked it in.

Asdrubal Cabrera and Choo opened the inning with singles. After Santana advanced the runners with a ground out to first, Fister fell behind Hafner, 2-0, before intentionally walking him.

Orlando Cabrera worked the count full. On the pitch before his sac fly, he lined a shot down the third baseline that hit Asdrubal Cabrera, who was coming home in foul territory. It was ruled a dead ball and Cabrera followed with his sac fly to left.

"When they walked Hafner, I was kind of excited," said Cabrera. "I think it was a good move. They wanted a right-hander on right-hander. They wanted to face somebody with bases loaded where you could get a double play.

"I missed a couple of good pitches, but I got a very good pitch to hit. I should have done a better job, but it was enough to drive in that run."

Said Acta, "Orlando, as usually, was in the middle of everything."

For the record, Seattle manager Eric Wedge said Bradley wasn't too blame for his errant throw. He said Ryan, Seattle's third baseman, should have been on the bag.  

To reach this Plain Dealer Reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

Former Cleveland Browns coach Butch Davis making an impact on the NFL draft at North Carolina: Tony Grossi's NFL Insider

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Former Browns coach Butch Davis is a relevant NFL figure again, as five of his North Carolina players are ranked in the top 100 of the coming NFL draft.

butch.jpgThanks to his ability to develop defensive linemen at the college level, North Carolina coach Butch Davis is relevant again at the NFL level.

Butch Davis

resigned as Browns coach with five games to go in the 2004 season and then drew on a $12 million severance through 2007.

After a stint on NFL Network, Davis returned to coaching at basketball-crazed North Carolina. In four years, Davis made football relevant again in the Tar Heel state. And doing so has made Davis relevant again in the NFL.

No college coach sent more players to the NFL Combine in February than Davis, who had 12. Five of them rank in Pro Football Weekly's top 100 in the NFL draft. That's more than from Alabama (four), Wisconsin (four), Miami (four), Auburn (three), USC (three), Texas (three) and LSU (two).

One of Davis' players, defensive end Robert Quinn, could be a candidate for the Browns' top choice at No. 6. Another, defensive tackle Marvin Austin, could be a candidate for the Browns' second choice at No. 37.

Quinn is rated No. 8 in the PFW rankings. Austin is 65th. Other Tar Heels in its top 100 are linebacker Bruce Carter (No. 28), receiver Greg Little (No. 63) and linebacker Quan Sturdivant (No. 73).

NFL executives and coaches know that if Davis can stay afloat at UNC despite a slew of NCAA player suspensions last season, he may be pumping out pro-ready defensive linemen on a yearly basis. Defensive line was always his specialty -- a fact that only made his puzzling selection of Florida's Gerard Warren for the Browns with the No. 3 overall pick in 2001 more regrettable than simply a draft-day whiff.

"You go there knowing you're going to be taught to play like an NFL player," said one NFL GM. "The majority of players go to college now to get to the NFL, and they've got guys that have coached in the NFL coaching these guys."

Davis' fourth Tar Heels team had visions of BCS championship game contention. Heck, the team's spring scrimmage was carried live by ESPN. Such was the seismic shift in focus to football after a particularly bad UNC basketball season in 2009-10.

But a series of suspensions as a result of illegal gifts to players from agents and other reported improprieties derailed the season from the start. Fourteen players were on the sideline for the season opener against LSU.

Seven players would be suspended for the entire season, including Quinn, Austin and Little.

Yet the Tar Heels finished with an 8-5 record for the third consecutive year. That included a controversial overtime triumph over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl.

"I don't see why that team may not have won 11 or 12 last year with all their players," said the NFL GM. "Right now, we're having to watch 2009 tape, when [some of] those guys were just sophomores, and they were players then. You add that with another solid recruiting class, what they would have been able to do . . . I would easily [have] said they would have been a top-10 team this past year."

The suspended players were welcomed back by Davis to the beautiful Chapel Hill, N.C., campus for the Tar Heels pro day on March 31. Davis looked on like a proud papa showing off his football studs.

That day, Davis received prime exposure on NFL Network, his employer during the period Davis brooded about the demise of his NFL career. Davis also will contribute to the network's exhaustive draft coverage. He will analyze the weekend's draft on the New York City set on Saturday, April 30, joining Alabama's Nick Saban, Wisconsin's Bret Bielema and Notre Dame's Brian Kelly.

Davis reportedly still could face sanctions by the NCAA for the alleged improprieties. He has pleaded ignorance of any wrongdoings and was not punished by North Carolina. The university is looking toward the completion of a $70 million stadium expansion by the 2011 season's first game. Davis has a contract through 2014 which nets him total compensation in the $2 million-a-year range, according to reports.

That's roughly one-half what the successful NFL head coaches make. But many former NFL coaches have found the college coaching life in the right program to be sublime. Saban, in fact, is one.

Davis, 59, appears to have rediscovered his calling as a college coach.

"I just think right now he's probably just content with being at North Carolina and winning the ACC [Atlantic Coast Conference] and going for a national championship, and dealing with those kids," said the NFL executive.

"When you get them at 18 and 19, they're a little different than when you get them at 21 and 22. You don't have all the added media pressure. I know that was one of the attractive things with Nick. There is pressure to coach at those big division schools, but at North Carolina, you figure you're competing with Florida State and Miami, and that group. You can see where he can win several ACC championships and contend for a national championship. That can be very fulfilling to him."

And you figure Davis can still get his taste of the NFL every April around the time of the NFL draft.

Cleveland Indians win 7th straight by completing 3-game sweep of Seattle

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Indians use homers by Asdrubal Cabrera and Jack Hannahan to take 6-0 lead against Seattle after four innings.

asdrubal.jpgAsdrubal Cabrera rounds the bases in the first inning in Seattle after hitting his third homer of the year during the Tribe's 6-4 win on Sunday.

Seattle -- Asdrubal Cabrera isn't going to abandon his game as a top-of-the lineup, set-the-table hitter. It's part of his DNA, but at the urging of Orlando Cabrera and hitting coach Jon Nunnally he's delving into his power potential.

Cabrera flipped the ignition switch Sunday on another good day for the offense as he homered in the first inning in the Indians 6-4 victory over Seattle to complete a three-game sweep at Safeco Field. The Indians have won seven straight and at 7-2 are off to their best start since opening the 2002 season at 11-1.

In the past, Cabrera has choked up on the bat and concentrated on putting the ball in play. In batting practice, however, he lets it rip. Newcomer Orlando Cabrera watched him in spring training and finally said something.

"Have you ever seen him take BP?" said Orlando Cabrera. "He hits the ball like a big guy. He's hitting homers to straight away center field. He's going oppo (driving the ball to the opposite field) whenever he wants. I say, "How can a guy like this hit three home runs a year?'"

So the veteran infielder suggested that Asdrubal might want to take that into the game.

"Orlando said take one at bat for yourself and try to do something," said Asdrubal Cabrera.

Cabrera had three hits, one run and two RBI in his first three at-bats against Seattle starter Erik Bedard. The rest of the offense followed as they built a 6-0 lead before the Mariners, who have lost seven straight, scored their first run in the fourth against Josh Tomlin (2-0, 2.63 ERA). Cabrera is hitting .375 (12-for-32) with a team-high three homers and nine RBI.

While Orlando Cabrera watched and talked in spring training, Nunnally had the shortstop's ear as well. Nunnally message was about tendencies.

"Asdrubal has always been kind of a slap hitter," said Nunnally. "The other teams see that and it becomes a tendency. When he comes to the plate, the outfielders move in."

For nine games, Asdrubal Cabrera has ruined those tendencies.

On Thursday, he beat Boston, 1-0, with a eighth-inning squeeze bunt. On Friday, he hit a first-inning homer against Seattle on the way to a 12-3 victory. Little ball, long ball? What's it going to be?

"Now they're saying, "What do we do?'" said Nunnally. "If we play him this way, he could do that. If we play him that way, he could do this."

Unless he has two strikes on him, Asdrubal Cabrera says he's swinging the bat harder and holding it at the end.

"But I'm not getting away from my game," he said. "I'm still trying to get on base and let Shin-Soo Choo and Travis Hafner drive me in."

For the record, he's never hit more than six homers in a season. Orlando Cabrera thinks he can do much better. "To me, he could have 45 doubles, 15 homers and 80 RBI. That's the type of player he is. He has exceptional power from both sides of the plate."

Tomlin allowed three runs on three hits in 6 2/3 innings. He did it the hard way. Seattle manager Eric Wedge's lineup featured eight left-handed hitters. Three of them were switch-hitters.

"Yeah, I'd like to face some righties every now and then," said Tomlin with a laugh.

Tomlin is the only Indians pitcher in history to pitch at least five innings in his first 14 big-league starts.

"I don't think about that," said Tomlin. "My main goal is to go as deep as I can and give us a chance to win everytime I go out there. If that record keeps going, that's fine." Tomlin gave up a two-run homer Ryan Langerhans in the seventh to make it a 6-3 game. Chad Durbin relieved and gave up a homer to Michael Saunders to make it 6-4. Manager Manny Acta went to Rafael Perez, Tony Sipp and Chris Perez to seal the deal.

Chris Perez earned his fourth save, and second in as many games, by retiring the Mariners in order in the ninth.

The Indians finished with 10 hits. Former Mariner Jack Hannahan made it 6-0 with a leadoff homer in the fourth.

This was their first three-game sweep in Seattle since July of 2009. They are 10-3 at Safeco Field since 2008 and 23-10 in Seattle since 2004.

 

Cleveland Cavaliers' Alonzo Gee is providing much-needed offense: Cavaliers Insider

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Alonzo Gee was moved into the starting lineup because of his willingness to play defense, but he's also scoring for the Cavaliers

alonzo gee.JPGCavaliers small forward Alonzo Gee is averaging 11.6 points since March 30.

Cleveland, Ohio -- Alonzo Gee was moved into the Cavaliers starting lineup 21 games ago because of his willingness to play defense, but he's also providing some much-needed scoring. 

He had 14 points in Saturday's 108-101 loss at Milwaukee, 12 of them in the first half when his teammates went AWOL. He wound up making all five of his field goals and added five rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 30 minutes. 

It was the seventh straight game in which he scored in double figures, and the ninth in the past 11. In the seven games since March 30, Gee is averaging 11.6 points on 57.7 percent shooting, including 9-of-15 (60 percent) from 3-point range and 5.4 rebounds in 28.7 minutes per game. 

Gee, who joined the team as a free agent in the middle of the season, said it took time to learn the offense and his new teammates. 

"I'm getting comfortable," said Gee, the Alabama product who led Palm Beach (Fla.) Dwyer to back-to-back Class 5A state titles in 2004 and 2005 and was the 2005 Class 5A State Tournament Most Valuable Player. "I'm just being aggressive on both ends of the floor. It starts with defense." 

The Cavs didn't play much defense in the first half against the Bucks, so Gee's offense was even more important. 

"They [the Bucks] were making a lot of shots," Gee said. "They were playing really well. We were missing shots, and they were making shots so it was a great start for them. We came out in the second half really aggressive and tried to play better. We did, but they still made shots." 

Triple threat: Drew Gooden's first career triple double on Saturday -- 15 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists -- included his career high for assists and the most by a Bucks player this season. It was the first time a Bucks player 6-10 or taller had that many assists since Toni Kukoc on Nov. 13, 2002. 

Combined with a 20-point, 10-rebound 10-assist game by Brandon Jennings on Oct. 30 against Charlotte, it was the first season since 2002-03 that Milwaukee has had two triple doubles in one season. Sam Cassell turned the trick that season. It also was the first time since 1986-87 that two different Bucks players recorded triple doubles. Cavs assistant coach Paul Pressey and Terry Cummings accomplished that feat. 

Going green: Though former Laker Byron Scott has refrained from wearing any of the Go Green items the NBA offered during the recent 2011 NBA Green Week because of the Laker-Celtic rivalry, he still says Boston is the team to beat in the Eastern Conference playoffs. 

"They've been there two out of three times in the last three years," he said. "They've won a championship, so I think the experience of being there is going to help them tremendously. 

"I don't look at them having a little bit of a slide these last five or six games as a big concern. I think [coach] Doc Rivers' main concern when the playoffs start next week is that they're healthy. If they're healthy, they can beat anybody."  

Almost done? The Cavs' Samardo Samuels needs surgery on his right wrist after the season and missed his fourth straight game with a groin strain at Milwaukee on Saturday. Scott said the team would re-evaluate him before Monday's game at Detroit. It's possible he'll be shut down at that point. 

"If he can't play Monday, then I would say he's pretty much done," Scott said.  
 

South Africa's Charl Schwartzel wins the Masters after a wild day

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The 26-year-old closed with four straight birdies, making a 20-footer at the final hole to wrap up a 6-under 66. He finished 14-under 274, enough to deny Australia its first green jacket.

charl-schwartzel-masters-golf.JPGView full sizeCharl Schwartzel of South Africa reacts after a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the Masters golf tournament today in Augusta, Ga.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Charl Schwartzel  gave this Masters a finish it deserved.

On an amazing Sunday at Augusta National, where the roars came from everywhere and for everyone and didn't stop until it was over, Schwartzel emerged from the madness by becoming the first Masters champion to close with four straight birdies.

His final putt from 20 feet curled into the side of the cup for a 6-under 66, the best closing round at the Masters in 22 years. It gave the 26-year-old South African a two-shot victory over Australians Adam Scott and Jason Day.

"Just an exciting day," Schwartzel said. "So many roars, and that atmosphere out there was just incredible. A phenomenal day."

Indeed, this final round had it all.

First came a fist-pumping charge by Tiger Woods, who erased a seven-shot deficit in nine holes only to go flat on the back nine. Then came the stunning collapse of 21-year-old Rory McIlroy, who put his name in Masters lore for all the wrong reasons.

Still leading by one shot as he headed to the back nine, McIlroy hit a tee shot next to the cabins left of the 10th fairway and twice hit a tree to make triple bogey. He three-putted from 7 feet for bogey on the 11th, four-putted from about 12 feet on the next hole and buried his head into his forearm as the shock began to settle in.

McIlroy shot 80, the highest final round by the 54-hole leader since Ken Venturi in 1956. Not since Jean Van de Velde at Carnoustie had someone blown at least a four-shot lead going into the last round of the major.

So wild was this steamy afternoon that eight players had at least a share of the lead on some point during the back nine. The steady hand came from Schwartzel, whose only bogey came on the fourth hole as this Masters was just getting warmed up.

He got up-and-down from behind the 15th green for birdie to briefly tie for the lead, only for Scott to stuff his tee shot into 2 feet up ahead on the par-3 16th. Schwartzel answered with a 15-foot birdie to catch Scott atop the leaderboard again.

Then came the pivotal 17th, where Schwartzel made a 10-foot birdie. It was the first time all day he had the lead to himself, and he finished it off in style.

South Africans now have won two of the last three majors, following Louis Oosthuizen winning at St. Andrews last summer. This one came on the 50th anniversary of Gary Player becoming the first international player to win the Masters.

"I am absolutely delighted for Charl and South Africa. Congratulations and very well done to him. That is how you finish like a champion!" Player said on Twitter.

In so many respects, this looked more like 1986 when Jack Nicklaus charged on the back nine to win a sixth green jacket over a Hall of Fame cast of contenders. There were twice as many possibilities at this Masters, though, from Woods and former Masters champion Angel Cabrera, from Geoff Ogilvy and Luke Donald, from K.J. Choi and Bo Van Pelt, who made two eagles on the back nine.

Schwartzel set the tone early when he chipped in from some 75 feet across the green for birdie on the opening hole, then holed out from the fairway on No. 3 for eagle. Just like that, McIlroy's four-shot lead was gone.

The cheers were impossible for McIlroy to ignore.

From the second green, where he was scrambling to make par, McIlroy could hear the noise ahead of him for Schwartzel's eagles. Moments later came another roar to his right on the seventh green, where Woods stuffed one close for another birdie.

Woods' red shirt looked a little brighter. He walked a little taller. And the cheers kept coming.

The biggest boom from the gallery came on the par-5 eighth, when Woods knocked in an eagle putt to reach 10 under and tie for the lead. There was no mistaking that sound, or who it was for.

Over the next few minutes, more cheers could be heard from all corners of Augusta each time Woods' score was posted on a leaderboard. He still had the back nine to play, and momentum was on his side.

Not for long, though.

He missed a 3-foot par putt on the 12th, failed to birdie the par-5 13th with a 7-iron for his second shot. Then, after twirling his 7-iron with a shot so pure it settled 4 feet away on the par-5 15th, he missed the 4-foot eagle putt.

Woods closed with a 67, his best final round ever here. But he shot a 36 on the back nine, and that doesn't win the Masters, certainly not this one.

"I got off to a nice start there and posted 31," he said. "And then on the back nine, could have capitalized some more."

Which shot would he like to have back?

"Oh, we can't do that," Woods said. "We do that every week and we would go crazy, wouldn't we?"

Schwartzel finished at 13-under 274 and moves to No. 11 in the world, making him the No. 1 player in South Africa. He becomes the sixth South African to win a major.

"It's been such a short time to think about what can happen. It's a dream for me," Schwartzel said. "It's obviously the highlight of my golf career, by a long way. I always thought if there was one I would win, it would be this one."

For Scott and Day, it was bitter disappointment for themselves and their country. The Masters is the only major an Australian has never won, and it has become a rallying cry for so many players who watched Greg Norman endure years of heartache.

Scott, who switched to a long putter in February, took the lead for the first time with a short birdie on the 14th and had the look of a winner with his tee shot to tap-in range on the 16th, and a clutch par save from the bunker on the 17th.

He missed his 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole that he ran 4 feet by and settled for a 67.

"I don't think I can ask for anything more," Scott said. "I had a putt at it at the last -- not my best, but everything else was pretty good today."

Day came to life at the end with consecutive birdies that allowed him to shoot 68 and join Scott at 12-under 276. He hugged his wife before going into the scoring hut, only to see Schwartzel play the 18th without any drama.

"I couldn't do any more than what I just did today," Day said. "Charl played even better golf."

Woods tied for fourth at the Masters for the second straight year, joined by Ogilvy (67) and Luke Donald (69). Ogilvy ran off five consecutive birdies on the back nine -- unforgettable at any other Masters but this one filled with so many highlights. Donald was in the mix until hitting 9-iron into Rae's Creek on the 12th for double bogey.

He rebounded beautifully, however, and showed his greatest emotion on the 18th. With an awkward lie near the bunker, he scooped a shot that hit the flag and bounced back off the green, and Donald chipped in for birdie.

Ultimately, though, it was Schwartzel slipping into a green jacket.

For the Americans, it's the first time they have not held any of the four majors or the Ryder Cup.

AP-WF-04-11-11 0020GMT

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